The cabaret "Die Arche" was founded in 1979. Since the mid-1990s, it has been run by the "Thüringer Satiretheater und Kabarett DIE ARCHE e.V.". It offers humorous satirical programs, most of which are written by its own (permanent) ensemble, but which also include texts by authors from other places. The plays are usually accompanied by music. Harald Richter and Fernando Blumenthal have alternated as directors since 2000. The cabaret puts on around 280 performances a year with 2-3 new productions, meaning that there are always 8-10 changing plays on the program.